Wimax for the Masses - a Quick Look at a Practical Broadband Wireless Solution

The technical standards

The finalization of the broadband wireless standard, IEEE 802.16-20041, means brand-new silicon from several vendors. Also, a power­ful industry consortium called the WiMAX Forum means we're about to see how good broadband wireless really can be.
IEEE 802.16 covers broadband wireless development in the 2- to 66-GHz range. The most recent version, 802.16-2004, defines a robust point-to-point or point-to-multipoint system in the 2- to 11-GHz range. Compatible with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) HIPERMAN2 standard, it will be used in licensed or unlicensed bands, focused on the 2.5- and 5.8-GHz ranges in the U.S. and 3.5 GHz in Europe and elsewhere.…